SLB launches franchise-based Lanka Shuttle Challenge 2020
COLOMBO – Following the success of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 cricket tournament organized by Sri Lanka Cricket, Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) has launched the country’s first high-profile franchise-based badminton tournament – Li Ning Lanka Shuttle Challenge 2020 (LSC 2020) – which began on Wednesday (16) at the SLB and Mercantile Badminton Association courts in Colombo.
All year long, most of our national athletes have been in training without a goal in sight. As in most sports, Badminton too had its fair share of missed competitions, both local and international. A frustrating sojourn in fact for many players who remain frustrated with a cascade of cancelled tournaments all over the world.
SLB has therefore taken the plunge and mooted the LSC 2020 for its National Pool, which will give it the opportunity to assess its key players.
The tournament was declared open by Chairman of the National Sports Council, former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene who graced the occasion as the chief guest. Secretary Ministry of Sports, Anuradha Wijesekera, and Director-General of Sports Development Department, Amal Edirisuriya, were also present at the opening ceremony.
Organized by SLB, the five-day event will witness six teams of 12 players each vying for honours as well as handsome prizes. SLB has adopted a franchise model to add glamour and set the precedents for an annual event each year that will complement the Senior and Junior Nationals, which has also been postponed to early 2021.
The competing teams are, Eastern Eagles, Southern Stars, Western Warriers, Northern Knights, Central Crusaders and Island Titans.
Each team includes three men, three women and two boys and girls under the age of 17. Teams are led by senior champion players, namely the Karunaratne brothers, Niluka and Dinuka, Sachin Dias, Buwaneka Gunetileke, Kavidi Sirimanage and Dilmi Dias with the national pool players evenly distributed to create a fine balance of talent.
The tournament has received the fullest support of the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Health while SLB has put together a robust protocol that will conform to health guidelines to make sure a successful event is conducted despite the present pandemic situation.
With the Tokyo Olympics being postponed to August 2021, Sri Lanka’s Niluka Karunaratne remains in contention to qualify and represent the country in the Japanese capital next year. LSC 2020 will help him come back to his familiar rhythm while SLB will have the opportunity to assess the key players of the national pool.
Rohan de Silva, the SLB President and Chairman of the McLarens Group, has offered the funds to run the event with the prize money alone worth more than Rs 600,000. All teams will receive an appearance fee while the champions are set to receive Rs 250,000.
Li Ning is the SLB Corporate as well as Title Sponsor of the LSC 2020 and will bring a largesse of prizes for outstanding performances. SLB NPTC Chairman Palitha Hettiarachchi heads the organizing committee while Ajith Wijayasinghe as Event Director and Sanjeewa Wijesekera as Tournament Referee supported by a host of SLB Ex Co veterans.
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on December 20 and will present the prizes for the champions.
-ENCL